In Pictures: Abu Ein laid to rest

Ziad Abu Ein was a former Palestinian political prisoner, a member of Fatah(***)s Revolutionary Council and a PA minister.

Thousands of Palestinians have gathered in Ramallah for the funeral of Palestinian Authority (PA) minister Ziad Abu Ein.

Abu Ein was killed on Wednesday after he was confronted by Israeli forces during an olive tree planting event organised by popular resistance committees in the Ramallah village of Turmus Aya.

A post-mortem was carried out last night which Palestinian officials say prove that Abu Ein died because he was beaten by Israeli forces and inhaled large amounts of tear gas. Israel is disputing these claims.

The Palestinian Authority announced that it was cancelling all security coordination with Israel in the wake of the death.

Ziad Abu Ein was the head of the Anti-Wall and Settlement Commission in the Palestinian Territories and was regularly active in non-violent protests across the occupied West Bank.

Distraught family members had to be carried out of the room in Ramallah hospital where Abu Ein(***)s body was kept.

Funeral prayers were held at the presidential compound - al-Muqata.

The ceremony inside al-Muqata was only open to officials and family members. Members of the public gathered in streets surrounding the compound.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was among the officials at the ceremony. Abbas announced the cancellation of (***)security coordination(***) policies with Israel in the wake of Abu Ein(***)s death.

Members of Palestinian armed resistance brigades fired rounds of bullets in the air.

The PA has announced an official mourning period of three days. City centre shops and businesses in Ramallah will remain closed through that period.

Israel, fearing unrest, has brought in troop reinforcements.

The funeral procession was the largest Ramallah has seen in months. Mourners chanted songs against the Israeli occupation and calls for resistance.

The Marytr(***)s cemetery in al-Bireh was filled with mourners awaiting the arrival and burial of Abu Ein(***)s body.

Abu Ein(***)s body was carried into the cemetery by members of the PA security forces.

According to the Islamic practice, al-Fatiha (Quranic verse) was read before Abu Ein(***)s body was laid to rest.

Mourners laid flowers before Abu Ein(***)s body was taken for burial. Posters have been put up across Ramallah and other parts of the West Bank.

Mourners offered their condolences to his family as they flooded out of the cemetery.

Abu Ein was the head of the Anti-Wall and Settlement Commission in the Palestinian Territories. He was formerly sentenced to life imprisonment by Israel in 1982 but released in a prisoner exchange in 1985.